Google has announced the impending shutdown of its VPN service, VPN by Google One. The tech giant is notifying its Google One subscribers about the discontinued service through email communications.
Users in Kenya and other African countries will not be affected by this change, as the VPN service was never made available in these regions.
Shutdown Timeline
While Google has announced the impending shutdown of its VPN service, VPN by Google One, the company has not provided a specific end-of-life date.
Instead, Google has stated that the VPN benefit will be phased out gradually over the course of this year.
First Announced in 2020
Google One first introduced its VPN service in October 2020, making it available across all of its subscription plans and supported platforms. However, the tech giant has now decided to discontinue the VPN offering in the coming months.
Initially, the VPN service was pitched as a way to provide an additional layer of online security and privacy for Android users. Google had even published a white paper detailing how the VPN functionality worked and had the system audited by a third-party.
Also Read: Gemini: Google launches new AI model to compete with ChatGPT
Additionally, the company open-sourced the client APIs for the VPN.
Currently, the VPN by Google One is available within the Google One mobile apps for both Android and iOS. Desktop users could also access the VPN through Mac and Windows clients.
The service was originally part of the $9.99 per month Google One Premium plan, but was later made available at a reduced $1.99 per month price point starting in March 2023.
Rationale for Shutting Down VPN by Google One
In its communication with users, Google has stated that it is phasing out the VPN by Google One to make way for more in-demand features and benefits.
The company has also confirmed to 9to5Google that the primary reason for discontinuing the VPN is a lack of user adoption and engagement.
Despite the shutdown of the Google One VPN, the company has clarified that Pixel users will still be able to access a Google-provided VPN through the settings on their Pixel 7 or newer devices.
The VPN by Google One is the latest in a long list of products and services that have been discontinued by the tech giant.
According to the “Killed by Google” tracking website, Google has shut down a staggering 294 different offerings over the years. This includes the recent closure of Google Podcasts, a nearly 6-year-old podcast hosting and listening platform.
